Chiefs' classic escape

It's never easy defending the Absa Premiership title and it will be no different for Kaizer Chiefs this season.

Last night's 1-1 draw against Moroka Swallows was a classic escape by Amakhosi, who risked suffering a second successive defeat in three days against yet another rival here.

Swallows deservedly took the lead when Lerato Chabangu finished off a move orchestrated by midfielder and skipper Lefa Tsutsulupa and winger Dikgang Mabalane in the 56th minute.

Inspired by his second goal of the campaign and perhaps puzzled by why he was left out of the Bafana squad announced in Durban yesterday, Chabangu went in search for more goals.

But he was denied by the outstanding Itumeleng Khune, who was voted man of the match.

Typical of a lucky escape from the jaws of defeat, Chiefs got their equaliser when Bernard Parker scored from a controversially awarded penalty. The stalemate means both sides have each won one and drawn one in their two games so far this season.

The first half would have had fans pulling out their hair as both teams looked for an opener with no luck.

If this was the kind of reaction Stuart Baxter expected from his players following Chiefs' 1-0 loss to rivals Orlando Pirates at the weekend, then his message did not hit home.

Amakhosi suffered an MTN8 first leg semifinal defeat at this venue on Saturday afternoon and Baxter's war cry was to see Chiefs bounce back in another derby - albeit of a smaller magnitude - against the Dube Birds.

He made two changes to Saturday's line-up, leaving defender Erick Mathoho and striker Lehlohonolo Majoro on the bench in favour of Morgan Gould and Knowledge Musona.

The coach kept his promise of ringing the changes after being humbled by the Buccaneers, but he failed to get an entirely positive response from his players.

It should have been clear that fans were in for a long night when after 15 minutes, there were only two shots on target and those came from defenders in Chiefs' Siboniso Gaxa and Luvhengo Mungomeni from Swallows.

Both sides were cautious in their approach - understandable for Swallows as visitors, but confusing and frustrating for Amakhosi in their own backyard.

Gaxa's 11th-minute attempt could have easily broken the deadlock and breathed life into a first-half performance that left a lot to be desired.

The rightback received a decent cross from Reneilwe Letsholonyane that went over the Swallows defence. But Swallows goalie Greg Etafia came off his line to make the crucial save.

Etafia was the busier of the two goalkeepers until Khune was beaten by Chabangu early in the second half to put the Dube Birds ahead.

Chiefs still managed to claw their way back and Parker scored his second goal of the season in as many games through a spot kick.

The penalty awarded to Chiefs by referee Kulasande Qongqo will be questioned over the coming days.

It was a clumsy challenge from Asavela Mbekile on Musona but there was minimal contact for the referee to award the spot kick, which Parker converted on the hour mark.

Like they did against Pirates, Amakhosi only really reacted and took control of the game when they found themselves trailing. To their credit this time, they were able to equalise.

But the Dube Birds were not to be outdone, with goalscorer Chabangu twice forcing spectacular saves from Khune after his brilliant free kicks.

ACES' Themba Zwane grabbed a stoppage-time winner to help Mpumalanga Black Aces stun AmaZulu 2-1 in their Premiership encounter at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu last night, reports Sapa.